Saturday 19 April 2014

Happy Easter Everyone!

coloured pencil on watercolour paper 1999

I have always loved doing illustrations and I'd often send them to greeting card publishers in the hope of selling my designs. These two were among those that I sent off - to no avail.
Easter for us happens in autumn and has very special memories for me from childhood. The first hint of a chill in the air always gets those magical Easter memories flooding back. I also had beautiful children's picture books that depicted Easter in the northern hemisphere where the spring flowers seem to go hand in hand with the Easter theme. Hence the inspiration for the above illustration. 

In the last few decades in Australia the Easter Bilby has come on to the scene to also deliver eggs. The Bilby is an endangered marsupial that lives in the more arid areas of the country.

coloured pencil on cartridge paper 1994

34 comments:

  1. These are so fun Wendy! I love how you share Australia with us!

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    1. Thanks so much Kaethe! I'm glad you enjoy seeing more of Australia. Is your niece still living in Western Australia?

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  2. Best Easter Cards I have ever seen!!! What do publishers know anyway!Happy Easter Bilby! Today at our Easter Dinner I am going to tell everyone in my family about the Easter Bilby! Thank you Wendy! Happy Autumn Easter to you Mate! I love these two illustrations! I so much love learning these great little facts about my buddy's wonderful southern hemisphere home! You are such a very skilled illustrator Wendy! I marvel at your work. I once toyed with the idea of illustrating children's books! (Hey Cobber! My wife just interrupted to tell me "The Easter Bilby" was on television! The Royal Family was in Australia and they talked a bit about the bilby!! How very cool is that! What a great coincidence! So much fun to see one on television while writing to you!!) Great art work Wendy! Enjoy every second on the planet my friend!
    G'Day Mate! Bilbys rock!
    Michael Bilby!

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    1. Wow Michael! That's a freaky coincidence! Isn't that often the way? - You've never heard of something before and then suddenly you read it or see it somewhere else in quick succession. I rarely watch the news these days but my sister was telling me that the royal baby was given an Easter Bilby toy today. It's good to know that the bilby is getting world wide attention!
      You are very kind to say such nice things about my illustrations. I remember you mentioning some time back about thinking about writing and illustrating children's books. Do you hope to continue with the idea?
      I hope you enjoy your Easter dinner with all your family. Say G'day from me!
      Happy Easter!
      Your trying-to-resist-the-Easter-chocolate art buddy,
      Wendy

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  3. Wendy, thank you for coming to my blog..
    That said, ..... YOU are one talented lady... your drawings are wonderful.
    BJ

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    1. Thanks so much for your lovely comments Barbra!

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  4. Haha, really awesome Wendy! I love them both! The Easter Bilby, I wish we had that one over here! I love the colors! Happy Easter to you all down under!

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    1. Thanks for visiting Dave and for your kind comments. I hope you both had a great Easter in The Netherlands!

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  5. These are SUCH a pleasure to see. You are very, very talented.
    Your plein air tree is beautiful and I enjoyed seeing the process steps. Hope your injury has healed and you are back on track. Michael gave you good advice.

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    1. You are very kind Julie - thank you! I love visiting your blog!

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  6. Hi Wendy, your illustrations are so beautiful and sweet. I love them! I agree with everyone here, you're very talented. Hope your back is a little bit improved. Happy Easter Monday! :)

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    1. Hi Hilje, thanks so much! My back is ebbing and flowing but maybe getting a tad better overall.

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  7. Two really lovely illustrations , pure Easter spirit , can't believe they weren't accepted !

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    1. Thanks for your support Jane. Maybe I should try them again sometime!

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  8. Wendy I can't imagine someone not wanting these lovely illustrations. They are adorable. The Bilby is so cute. I hope you did have a lovely Easter. Thank you so much for stopping by to visit me as well. Take care and have a great week. I will be emailing you soon.

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    1. Thanks Debbie! Yes, I had a great weekend and got a chance to do a lot of writing amongst everything else. I hope you enjoyed yours. How could you not with all those beautiful daffodils to look at!

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  9. Wendy, I love your illustrations! The Easter Bilby is cute. I never heard of him before.

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    1. Thanks Joan! I'm just about to come over and catch up on your wonderful blog!

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  10. These two cards are fantastic! Love the Bilby ! Not accepted......unbelievable! You mentioned chrysanthemums ready to bloom in your garden . Hope to see a painting of them soon! :-)

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    1. Thanks so much Helen! Ooh now I'm under pressure! I consider you to be the queen of chrysanthemums!!

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  11. The Easter Bilby is one I had never heard of. Funny how each country develops their own traditions. I now know what baby George was given and it makes sense now. Not sure if the rest of the UK know what a bilby is either. I might need to spread the word about your Easter Bilby. Both fab illustrations and beautiful memories for you of times gone by. Who cares what publishers think. Anyway thanks for sharing your bilby with us. Hope you enjoyed Easter.

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    1. Thanks for the encouragement Laura!
      It's because the bilby is on the endangered list and someone had the great idea to promote it alongside the Easter bunny to help raise awareness - and money to help save it.
      I hope you had a great Easter too!

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  12. I'm chiming in a little late and with nothing that hasn't already been stated but I can't contain my delight over the "Easter Bilby" and had to comment. Michael is a great story teller, I wish I had heard his Easter dinner rendition of the Easter Bilby - nice work Wendy - keep submitting to publishers!

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    1. Thanks so much for your enthusiasm Lisa! Yes, I too was tickled to imagine Michael telling the story about the Easter Bilby to his family all the way over there on your side of the world in his signature animated style!

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  13. sweet illustrations Wendy, the Easter Bilby is a great Aussie version:). Publishers have missed out. Hope you had a very happy Easter with your family.

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    1. Thanks Sally! I loved seeing what you got up to with your family over Easter!

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  14. I love hearing about your Easter traditions Wendy... hopefully you are still enjoying any leftover chocolates.
    These would make beautiful illustrations for childrens books or cards, publishers don't know much!! I hope your writing is going well too.

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    1. Thanks so much Celia! I hope you had a wonderful Easter and that you are recovering well! Have been thinking of you!

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  15. Adorable illustrations. I love your header.

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  16. Hi Wendy, this is a very cool blog and I will definitely be keeping an eye on all of this beautiful art that you are posting.

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    1. Very kind of you Millie! I enjoyed visiting your blog too - love your writing!

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